Kid Rock Picks Up High School Band’s $2,500 Thanksgiving Day Travel Bill

In early November, the Wyandotte Marching Chiefs got the call that most marching bands would kill for -- they were invited to back up Kid Rock during the halftime performance of the Detroit Lions annual Thanksgiving Day game. But then the financial reality of the situation began to set in, with the school scurrying to land a fleet of buses to transport those taking part and incurring a $2,400 bill in the process.

After reading an article that included the school's transportation bill for the event, Kid Rock decided to take action. According to the Wyandotte Patch, the musician sent a letter to the school thanking them for their participation in the show and included a $2,500 check to offset the expenses.

The letter stated:

I read the article in the Wyandotte Patch on the extra expenses you incurred getting back and forth to Ford Field to practice for the Thanksgiving Day half time show. I hope this covers your expenses. Thank you ... you guys did a fantastic job!!!!

Roosevelt High School's music director, Mark D'Angelo, told the paper he was surprised by Rock's response. "In the weeks prior to our performance, I was sharing with the students some of the amazing things that I had learned about how Kid Rock … gives back to his community and to Detroit," said D'Angelo. "The students and I never thought that we would be included in that list until we received this letter today."

He added, "As I read the letter to each of my classes, there was a lot of excitement and amazement that once again, Kid Rock was thinking about us. I hope we get an opportunity someday to have a longer conversation and we can show him just how much all of this has meant to every member of our band community. Kid Rock, you've got a lot of new fans in Wyandotte, Michigan!"

In addition to Kid Rock's check, the band received an additional $720 in donations from community members. The extra money will offset band-related expenses in the future.